Methods and apparatus for cleaning drums

ABSTRACT

A method of and apparatus for cleaning drums of the type having a bung opening in the cover which employs a tank having a plurality of nozzle pipes positioned in the tank. The nozzle pipes are stationary or in a fixed position, one for each drum to be cleaned. The drums are supported so that their bung openings are facing and in alignment with the nozzle pipes. The drums are moved over the stationary nozzle pipes and retracted. During the reciprocable movement of the drums a cleaning solution is sprayed against the interior surfaces of the drums.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Jerry ,1. Molinari Newark, NJ. [21]Appl. No. 782,342 [22] Filed Dec. 9, 1968 [45] Patented Oct. 26, 1971[73] Assignee Kingsland Drum & Barrel Co. Inc.

Newark, NJ.

[54] METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING DRUMS 16 Claims, 12 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. Cl 134/23, 134/24, 134/25 A, 134/32, 134/43, 134/148, 134/152[51] Int. Cl. 1108b 9/12 [50] Field of Search 134/22, 23, 24, 32,33,147,148,150,151,152,199,43, 25 A; 15/62, 57, 58, 71

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 593,437 11/1897 Schutz 15/62609,931 8/1898 Ehrengart. 15/57 798,986 9/1905 Tunelius 15/62 God 0 341,004,381 9/1911 Danziger 134/43 1,629,486 5/1927 Dougherty... 134/22 X1,644,384 10/1927 Kendall 134/148 X 2,240,364 4/1941 Kimball et al...134/23 X 2,811,976 11/1957 Blake et a1. 134/148 X 2,951,490 9/1960Cuillier 134/148 X FOREIGN PATENTS 877,816 7/1949 Germany 134/22 PrimaryExaminer-Joseph Scovronek Assistant Examiner-D. G. MillmanAttorney-Harry G. Shapiro ABSTRACT: A method of and apparatus forcleaning drums PATENTEDDCT 26|97l sum 30F 6 INVENTOR.

JERRY J- MOLJ NAR\ PATENTEU EDT 2 6 I971 SHEET '4 OF 6 PIE. 8

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INVENTOR. JERRY \J. MOLl NAR\ BY I; g

ATTORN CY PATENTEDBCT 26 Ian 3,615,822

SHEET 5 OF 6 INVENTOR.

JERRY d. MOL\ MAR ATTORNEY PATENTED DU 2 5 Ian SHEET 6 0F 6 INVENTOR.

JERRY J. MOUNARI METHODS AND APPARATUSFOR CLEANING DRUMS The inventionrelates to improvements in methods and apparatus for cleaning drums ofthe type having a bung opening in the cover.

The primary object of the invention is to providea-simple, effective andeconomical method-of and apparatus for cleaning drums.

To effectuate these purposes a tank is provided in" which a plurality ofnozzle pipes are positioned. The nozzle pipes-are stationary, and inlongitudinally spaced relation, one nozzle pipe for each drum to becleaned. The drums are placed upon a movable support which isreciprocated during the cleaning cycle, whereby the drums are moved downover the nozzle pipes and retracted. During the mov'ement'ofthe'drums'clean ing fluid is sprayed against the interior surfaces ofthe drums. The movement of the drums with respect to the stationarynozzle pipes is permitted by aligning the bung openings of the drumswith the nozzle pipes.

By maintaining the nozzle pipes in a stationary position and moving thedrums to be cleaned with respect to' the pipes a number of advantagesare afforded. Flexible joints'for the ho:- zle pipes, with the attendantdifficulties inherent in the use of flexible joints, are eliminated. Thenumber of seals whichwould otherwise be located in the strong cleaningsolution, where the seals would rapidly deteriorate, are minimized. Thepump and associated equipment are positioned outside of the tank andaway from the deteriorating effect of the strong cleaning solutions. Themeans for reciprocating the support for the drums also is locatedexteriorly of the tank where it is not affected by the strong cleaningsolution.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention, in which;

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus made in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken approximately in theplane of line 2-2 of Fig. l, a drum being shown partly broken away andin a cross section; I

FIG. 3 is a horizontal view taken approximately in the plane of line 33of Fig. 2, the drums being omitted in this view for clarity inillustration;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating means for oscillating the sta tionarynozzles which are; cooperable with the respective drums;

FIG. 5 is a partial side view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5of Fig. l;

FIG. 6 is a partial end view looking in the direction of arrows 6-6 ofFig. 5;

, apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view taken approximately 5 in theplane 84 of Fig. 7;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken approximately in theplane of line 9-9 of Fig. 2, this view showing one of the guide meansfor the vertically movable drum support; and

FIGS. 10, 10A and 10B illustrates a cycle in the operation of cleaning adrum or a plurality of drums.

In accordance with the method of the invention a tank is provided whichhas positioned therein a plurality of stationary, longitudinally spacednozzle pipes. A plurality of drums are supported so that the bungopenings of the drums face and are in alignment with the nozzle pipes.The support for the drums is mounted for reciprocable movement. During acycle, the drums are moved over the stationary nozzle pipes andretracted. During the movement of the drums the interior surfaces of thedrums are sprayed with a cleaning solution. Preferably, the nozzle pipesare oscillated about their respective longitudinal axes during themovement of the drums.

Referring to the drawings, apparatus in accordance with the inventioncomprises a tank 10 which may be set on the ground or, as shown in Figs.2 and 5, may be supported above ground on suitable support members I].As shown in Figs. 1-3 and 6,

an elevated working platform 12 is'connected to the tank near the topthereof, as by an L-shaped member 13 welded or bolted tothe side of thetank (Fig. 2), the opposite end of the platform being supported by aplurality of spaced, vertically extending support members 12.

As shown in Fig. lapum'p I4 is provided to circulate-a cleaning solutionfor the'drurns A to be cleaned. As knownin the art, a cleaning solutionis selected for the'partic'ular kind'of material whichcoats the interiorofthe drhm' and which it's desired to remove. For example, where theinterior of the drum is' coated with a varnish, a causticsolutioh isused; where the coating is an oil, a caustic solution containing sodaash may be used; and for other materials to be removed solutionscontaining appropriate cleaning compounds are used.

A horizontally extending main pipe 16 is incommunication with the pump14', and a plurality of longitudinally spaced, vertically extendingnozzle pipes 18" are in flow communication with the main pipe. The mainpipe at its extremity remote from the pump is sealed against the end ofthe tankas shown in Fig. 4. A nozzle 20is positioned on the top of eachpipe 18. The nozzle pipes and their respective nozzles are stationary inthe sense that they have no movement in vertical and horizontal planes.However, as will be subsequently described, the nozzle pipes and theirrespective nozzles are mounted for oscillation about the longitudinalaxis of each pipe. While a single pipe and nozzle be used for thecleaning of a single drum, for the purposes of increasedproduction it ispreferred to provide a plurality of the longitudinally spaced nozzles asillustrated so that a plurality of drums may be cleaned during eachcycle of operation of the apparatus. Six or eight drums may be cleanedat a time.

As shown iriFi'gs. 2 and 3, the main pipe l6 rests upon a plurality oflongitudinally spaced support members- 17 which extend between and aresecured to the sides of the tank 10 near but above the bottom 19 of thetank. After the drums are cleaned, cleaning solution is recirculatedback to the suction side of the pump 14 by a return pipe 22'. As shownin Figsil and 3 screen means 24 is provided at the bottom of the tank tofilter'out the waste from the cleaning solution before it isrecirculated back to the pump. The screen means may take the form of ascreen basket positioned at an opening in a sidewall of the tank. Theorifice of the return pipe is sealed t'o the opening in the side of thetank. As shown in Fig. l, the pump 14 is operated by a motor 26 througha gear reducer 28 the motor and gear redu'cer being situated upon asuitable platform 29. The main pipe 16 coming off the pump 14' extendsthrough a sealed opening in one end of the tank at a level below thelevel of the cleaning solution which is maintained in the tank 10 (Fig.2). v

A drum support 30 is mounted for. up and down movement or reciprocablemovement in a vertical plane. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2', also Figs. 10,10A and 108, the drum support comprises a pair of transversely spaced,longitudinally extending bars 32, 32' having their ends secured, as bywelding, to a pair of end plates 34, 34. The bars 32, 32 are spacedapart an amount slightly less than the diameter of a drum. Also, tobetter support each drum upon the vertically movable drum support and torigidify the drum support assembly, longitudinally spaced, transverselyextending members 33 are secured at their ends to the bars'32, 32' sothat each drum may be supported by the bars 32, 32' and a pair ofsupport members 33 as best shown in Fig. l.

As shown in Figs. 10, 10A and 108, the drums A are posi tioned upon thevertically movable drum support with their cover ends B, the ends havingthe usual bung openings 35 therein, on the lower side. The bung openingsface and are in alignment with the nozzles 20 atop the pipes 18. Thebung openings 35 are located rearwardly of the rear drum support bar32'. At the start of the cleaning cycle, it is preferred that thenozzles 20 extend through the bung openings a slight amount.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 10, 10A and 108, the drums A are supported uponthe drum support assembly 30 at an angle.

that is, they are tilted. The plane of a cover B of each drum is at anangle at (Fig. of approximately 10 to 20 with respect to the horizontal.The preferred angle is approximately The tilted position of the drumsupon the drum support assembly may be accomplished by locating thelongitudinally extending front bar 32, which is closest to the operatorsworking platform 12, at a higher level than the rear bar 32.

To maintain the drums in tilted position while they are being cleaned, aseries of longitudinally spaced, arcuate retainers 36 are provided, onefor each drum, against which the respective drums are leaned. Theretainers are secured, as by welding, to another longitudinallyextending bar 38 having the ends thereof secured, as by welding to theend plates 34, 34'. The bar 38 is located above and rearward of the rearsupport bar 32'.

To assist in guiding the vertically movable drum support 30 with respectto the stationary nozzle pipes 18, respective guides 40 are provided asshown in Figs. 2, 10, 10A and 108. The guides 40 may take the form ofeyelet members, the nozzle pipes extending through their openings. Theeyelet members are secured to the rear support bar 32' for movement withthe drum support assembly 30.

To impart reciprocable movement to the drum support 30 a main driveshaft 42 is provided at the top of the apparatus and extendslongitudinally thereof. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the main shaft isjournaled in longitudinally spaced bearings 44 mounted upon a stationaryframe 46 which is positioned within the tank 10. The frame comprisesrigid, vertically extending members 48, 48 and 50, 50' and crossconnecting members 51 (FIG. 2). The vertical frame members 48, 48, 50,and 50' are respectively secured to the tank at each of the tanks fourcorners. Preferably, these frame members are in the form' of I beams sothat the configuration of such members may be utilized for guiding thedrum support assembly. As more particularly shown in Fig. 9, each of theI beam frame members furnishes a vertically extending guide groove 52within which is received a roller 54. Each of the rollers is mounted ona bracket 56 which is secured, as by welding, to an end plate, therespective end plates 34 and 34' of the drum support assembly.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, connecting members 58 are respectivelysecured to the end plates 34, 34 of the drum support assembly. Chains60, 60' each have one end respectively connected to the connectingmembers 58, 58'. The chains extend around sprockets 62, 62' which arefixed for rotation with the main shaft 42. The chains are of sufficientlength so that their opposite ends 60a (Fig. 2) will not reach .thesprocket when the drum support assembly 30 is in its lowermost position.The drum support assembly is confined for reciprocable up and downmovement and guidance by the sliding engagement of the end plates 34 and34' with the adjoining vertical stationary frame members 48, 48' and 50,50' in each corner of the tank 10.

To raise and lower the drum support 30 with the drums A positionedthereon and to operate the pump 14, a control box 64 is provided. Thecontrols are of the kind known in the art for energizing and stoppingmotors in selected timed sequence, and are not shown. As shown in Figs.1 and 5 the main shaft 42 is connected to a second shaft 66 by acoupling 68. The second shaft extends from a reducer 70, which isoperated by a motor 72 through an intermediate belt 74 extending aroundthe pulleys on the shafts of the motor and reducer. The motor andreducer are mounted upon a horizontally extending platform 76 which issecured to the side and near the top of the stationary frame 46.

2 Regarding the nozzles, any suitable construction may be used. It ispreferred to use a nozzle having the construction as shown in Figs. 7and 8 whereby the cleaning solution may be emitted from both the noseportion and the side of the nozzle. To enable removal and periodiccleaning the nozzles are each internally threaded at 78 for engagementwith a threaded portion at the top of each pipe 18. The nose or topportion of each nozzle is provided with a plurality of slots 80. Theslots.

may be four in number as shown to provide a central opening 82 at theirintersection. An orifice 84 is provided in the side wall of the nozzle,whereby the orifice and the slots are in communication with the nozzlesinternal bore 86.

The stationary pipes 18 and their respective nozzles 20 are oscillatedabout their respective longitudinal or vertical axes. The are ofoscillation is slightly less than Suitable means for oscillating thenozzle pipes are shown in FIGS. 2-6. A nozzle pipe connecting member 88having a central opening and hub 90 (FIG. 2), is fastened to each pipe.The same side ends of pairs of adjacent connecting members are connectedto one another by longitudinally extending rods 92 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Oneof the rods, designated 92 which is associated with the first nozzlepipe of a series of the pipes, the pipe at the left in the showing ofFIG. 3, extends through a vertical slot in the end plate 34 and througha slot 96 in the end wall 10a of the tank. The slot 96 is shown in FIG.6, and additionally permits runoff of cleaning solution therethroughwhen the level of the solution in the tank would rise above this openingin the tank wall.

As more particularly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rod 92' is connected toan arm 98 extending from a 45 angle drive 100. The arm 98 imparts areciprocating or back and forth movement to the rod 92', therebyoscillating the nozzle pipes I8 interconnected by the members 88 and therods 92. The drive 100 is operated by a motor 102 acting through a gearreducer 104, which in turn rotates a short arm I06 acting to oscillatean arm 108 on the shaft of the angle drive 100.

As shown in FIGS. 6, a pipe 110 which carries steam may be included toheat the solution in the tank. The steam pipe enters the end 100 of thetank through an opening provided with a seal 112 where the steam pipeenters the tank. A valve 114 may be provided in the steam line.

The described system for cleaning drums operates in the followingmanner. A cleaning solution suitable for removing the coating of aparticular composition on the interior surfaces of the drums A isprovided for the system. The cleaning solution is contained in the tank10 at the approximate level shown in FIG. 2. The solution also fills themain pipe 16 and the return pipe 22. An operator standing on theplatform I2 loads a plurality of drums A upon the drum support assembly30. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 10, the nozzles 20 extend through the bungopenings 35 in the cover B of each drum at the beginning of the cleaningcycle. The drums are held in tilted position by the arcuate members 36.

For semiautomatic operation the operator presses a button on the controlbox 64, whereupon the drums A upon the drum support assembly are moveddown over the nozzle pipes 18 as shown in FIGS. 10A and 108. FIG. 108shows the lowermost position of each drum. The drums are retracted overthe stationary nozzles through the stages as shown in FIGS. 10B, 10A and10 respectively.

During the reciprocable movement of the drums, which are raised andlowered by the motor 72, the reducer 70 and the sprocket, chain andshaft arrangement 62, 60 and 42, the pump 14 is actuated by the motorand gear reducer 26, 28 to cause cleaning solution under pressure, to beforced through the main pipe 16, the nozzle pipes 18 and through theirrespective nozzles 20. During the reciprocable movement of the drums,and while the cleaning solution is emitted under pressure from thenozzles 20, the nozzle pipes 18 are oscillated by the describedarrangement of pipe connecting members 88, rods 92, 92', and theactuating means comprising the arm 98, the angle drive 100, operated bythe motor 102 acting through the gear reducer 104 and the associatedparts.

After the cleaning cycle is completed the suction side of the pump 14 isactuated to withdraw a predetermined amount of cleaning solution throughthe return pipe 22 to thereby maintain the system in balance, and tocause waste'material in the cleaning solution to be screened at 24.Thus, for the next cycle the pump 14 circulates cleaning solution intothe main pipe l6 and the nozzle pipes 18 from which waste materialresulting from the cleaning of'the drums has been removed.

The system may be operated automatically in the respect that theoperator need only load and remove the drums from the drums supportassembly in timed sequence with the timed sequence of operation for acleaning cycle; that is to say, it is not necessary for the operator tomanually actuate the various operations as above described by manuallyinitiating the controls at the control box 64.

it is believed that the advantages and improved results furnished by theapparatus of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing detaileddescription of an illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention.

I claim:

1. A method of cleaning drums of the type including a cover having ahung opening, the method comprising providing a tank having positionedtherein a plurality of stationary, vertically extending, longitudinallyspaced nozzle pipes, supporting a plurality of drums having their bungopenings facing and in alignment with the nozzle pipes, the drums beingsupported at their cover ends by a single support means, moving thesupport means and thereby moving the drums down over the stationarynozzle pipes, retracting the drums, and spraying the interior surfacesof the drums during the movement of the drums, the movement of the drumsbeing confined for movement in a vertical plane, the drums being intilted position during their movement.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 comprising oscillating the nozzlepipes about their respective longitudinal axes during the movement ofthe drums.

3. Apparatus for cleaning drums of the type including a cover having abung opening, the apparatus comprising a tank, a plurality ofstationary, vertically extending nozzle pipes positioned in the tank inlongitudinally spaced relation, a drum support for a plurality of drumsmounted for reciprocable movement into and out of the tank in a planeparallel to the longitudinal axes of the nozzle pipes, the drum supportcomprising a pair of longitudinally spaced end plates, first and secondlongitudinally extending, transversely spaced support members secured tothe end plates, the transverse spacing of the support members being lessthan the diameter of a drum, and means for imparting reciprocablemovement in a vertical plane to the drum support to permit spraying theinterior surfaces of the drums during the movement of the drums.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first support memberis at a lower level than the second support member, and a thirdlongitudinally extending support member secured to the end plates, thethird member being positioned rearward of the first support member andat a higher level than the second support member.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including means for oscillating thenozzle pipes about their respective longitudinal axes.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including guide means for eachnozzle pipe secured to one of said support members.

7 Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including guide means for eachnozzle pipe secured to the first support member.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a stationary frameextending into and above the tank, the end plates being positionedadjacent the frame.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the frame comprises avertically extending l-beam located at each comer of the tank, andcooperable means connected to the end plates and provided by the l-beamsfor guiding the drum support.

10. Apparatus for cleaning drums of the type including a cover having abung opening, the apparatus comprising a tank, a plurality ofstationary, vertically extending nozzle pipes positioned in the tank inlongitudinally spaced relation, a main pipe in flow communication withthe nozzle pipes, a pump exterior of the tank in communication with themain pipe, a return pipe in communication with the bottom of the tankand the pump, a drum support for a plurality of drums mounted forreciprocable movement into and out of the tank in a plane parallel tothe longitudinal axes of the nozzle pipes, the drum support comprising apair of longitudinally spaced end plates, first and secondlongitudinally extending, transversely spaced support members secured tothe end plates, the transverse spacing of the support members being lessthan the diameter of a drum, and means for imparting reciprocablemovement in a vertical plane to the drum support to permit spraying theinterior surfaces of the drums during the movement of the drums.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first support memberis at a lower level than the second support member, and a thirdlongitudinally extending support member secured to the end plates, thethird member being positioned rearward of the first support member andat a higher level than the second support member.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including means for oscillatingthe nozzle pipes about their respective longitudinal axes.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including guide means for eachnozzle pipe secured to one of said support members.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including guide means for eachnozzle pipe secured to the first support member.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including a stationary frameextending into and above the tank, the end plates being positionedadjacent the frame.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein the frame comprises avertically extending l-beam located at each comer of the tank, andcooperable means connected to the end plates and provided by the l-beamsforguiding the drum support.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 comprising oscillating the nozzlepipes about their respective longitudinal axes during the movement ofthe drums.
 3. Apparatus for cleaning drums of the type including a cOverhaving a bung opening, the apparatus comprising a tank, a plurality ofstationary, vertically extending nozzle pipes positioned in the tank inlongitudinally spaced relation, a drum support for a plurality of drumsmounted for reciprocable movement into and out of the tank in a planeparallel to the longitudinal axes of the nozzle pipes, the drum supportcomprising a pair of longitudinally spaced end plates, first and secondlongitudinally extending, transversely spaced support members secured tothe end plates, the transverse spacing of the support members being lessthan the diameter of a drum, and means for imparting reciprocablemovement in a vertical plane to the drum support to permit spraying theinterior surfaces of the drums during the movement of the drums. 4.Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first support member isat a lower level than the second support member, and a thirdlongitudinally extending support member secured to the end plates, thethird member being positioned rearward of the first support member andat a higher level than the second support member.
 5. Apparatus as setforth in claim 3 including means for oscillating the nozzle pipes abouttheir respective longitudinal axes.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3including guide means for each nozzle pipe secured to one of saidsupport members.
 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 including guidemeans for each nozzle pipe secured to the first support member. 8.Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a stationary frame extendinginto and above the tank, the end plates being positioned adjacent theframe.
 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the frame comprisesa vertically extending I-beam located at each corner of the tank, andcooperable means connected to the end plates and provided by the I-beamsfor guiding the drum support.
 10. Apparatus for cleaning drums of thetype including a cover having a bung opening, the apparatus comprising atank, a plurality of stationary, vertically extending nozzle pipespositioned in the tank in longitudinally spaced relation, a main pipe inflow communication with the nozzle pipes, a pump exterior of the tank incommunication with the main pipe, a return pipe in communication withthe bottom of the tank and the pump, a drum support for a plurality ofdrums mounted for reciprocable movement into and out of the tank in aplane parallel to the longitudinal axes of the nozzle pipes, the drumsupport comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced end plates, first andsecond longitudinally extending, transversely spaced support memberssecured to the end plates, the transverse spacing of the support membersbeing less than the diameter of a drum, and means for impartingreciprocable movement in a vertical plane to the drum support to permitspraying the interior surfaces of the drums during the movement of thedrums.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first supportmember is at a lower level than the second support member, and a thirdlongitudinally extending support member secured to the end plates, thethird member being positioned rearward of the first support member andat a higher level than the second support member.
 12. Apparatus as setforth in claim 10 including means for oscillating the nozzle pipes abouttheir respective longitudinal axes.
 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim10 including guide means for each nozzle pipe secured to one of saidsupport members.
 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 including guidemeans for each nozzle pipe secured to the first support member. 15.Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 including a stationary frameextending into and above the tank, the end plates being positionedadjacent the frame.
 16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein theframe comprises a vertically extending I-beam located at each corner ofthe tank, and cooperable means connected to the end plates and providedby the I-beams for guiding the drum suppoRt.